With strong vertical lines soaring upward, the first skyscraper in southeast Houston – a $10-million 27-story International Center (the third largest scraper in Houston) – is scheduled for construction near Gulfgate Shopping Center. Contrasting the horizontal ranch house lines of the surrounding sprawling subdivisions, the office building (and a connecting $5-million hotel-motel) will be built by Southern Enterprise Corporation near Gulf Freeway on 20 acres purchased from Mayor Oscar Holcombe for almost $1-million – one of the biggest land deals in Houston in recent years.

The building will include an international exhibit hall and auditorium. The first three levels will have space for executive suites, conference and meeting rooms, small shops and restaurants. The other 24 levels will each have 13,000 to 16,000 square feet for office facilities.

To be built around a swimming pool, the 10-story hotel-motel will reserve three floors for lobby, mezzanine, coffee shops and meeting rooms.